Closings

Severe Weather

What is the world's smartest animal?

There is debate in the scientific community about which animal is top dog in the world when it comes to being the smartest. There are many factors that lead to disagreements, including what tests are given, how they are administered and how many subjects are involved.

With that said, over the years, scientist have weighed in with their thoughts. The following list of smartest animals (excluding humans) includes many animals cited by behavioral biologist Edward O. Wilson as the most intelligent. There are also some other animals listed that have been cited in more recent research as deserving a place among the animal kingdom's brightest.

We'll count down the list in reverse order.

12: Dogs

Dogs make such wonderful companions in part because of their intelligence. Not only are they accomplished learners when it comes to basic commands and tricks, but some researchers estimate they can distinguish and understand up to 250 words.

Intelligence among dogs can vary significantly from animal to animal as well as from breed to breed.

11: Crows

With their broad, black wings and deep, dark eyes, crows can be almost eerily intelligent.

In research and real-world settings crows display uncanny problem-solving skills as well as a basic ability to use simple objects as tools.

Crows have been known to drop nuts onto roadways so cars can drive over them and break them open. They have also been observed fashioning small pieces of metal into hooks, which they use to extract food from tough-to-get-to areas.

10: Pigs

While not as cuddly, pigs have been compared to dogs and cats when it comes to intelligence. According to the World Animal Foundation, "Pigs are actually more intelligent than any breed of dog."

Pigs can learn a name within a couple weeks of birth and will respond to it. They also form very close emotional bonds with humans.

9: Elephants

Even relative to their tremendous size, elephants have large brains. They also display an advanced aptitude for teamwork.

The agile gibbon, like many primates, ranks highly in animal intelligence.

Gibbons are social creatures. However, they can be difficult to test because they are highly active and sometimes unpredictable.

7: Baboons

Another primate that is a smart cookie is the baboon. In a European study, baboons were able to consistently recognize whether a written word on a screen was an English word or nonsense, according to sciencedaily.com.

In another test, baboons were able to look at two images and determine whether they were the same or different.

6: Parrots

For years scientists thought that a parrot's mimicking of human speech was a simple trick; pure imitation with little to no understanding behind it. More recent research has revealed the opposite.

African Grey parrots, which are the squawking Einsteins of the parrot kingdom, can understand shapes, colors and even basic number concepts.

African Greys have also demonstrated vocabularies of more than 1,500 words and can use these words in the proper context.

Anyone who has ever owned an African Grey parrot realizes that they are also great problems solvers. They have an uncanny ability to unlock their cages and get out.

5: Orangutans

The laid back orangutan, with its gangly arms and orange hair, is considered of the smartest primates. In fact, at the Atlanta Zoo, two orangutans regularly play a video game. The game screen is mounted in a fake tree and tests their memory, pattern recognition and other cognitive skills.

Orangutans have also been observed using simple tools in the wild, such as long sticks, which they use to dip into trees to pull out insects, which they eat.

4: Killer whales

It is a bit frightening how smart these massive animals are, especially considering they are deadly predators.

Killer whales have the second largest brains of all marine mammals. They are capable of vocal communication and demonstrate problem solving in the wild and in captivity.

One study found that not only could killer whales communicate to one another where the fish were that they were chasing, but they were also able to identify the type of fish that was being hunted.

In captivity, killer whales are highly adept at learning new skills and tricks.

3: Gorillas

The mighty gorilla is generally regarded as one of the most intelligent animals in the world. Some captive gorillas have even been taught basic sign language.

Gorillas are also capable of feeling strong emotions and can differentiate between the past, present and future.

Gorillas are another primate that can create and use basic tools. At least one female gorilla has been observed in the wild using a walking stick to measure the depth of water it is crossing.

2. Dolphins

Not only are dolphins charming and beautiful, they are brilliant. One of a dolphin's most advanced abilities is imitation, which is actually quite rare in the animal kingdom. Apart from humans, the animal that is the best at imitation is the dolphin, according to the Dolphin Research Center in Florida.

Researchers have blindfolded dolphins and found that they can imitate one another's actions, such as making certain wave patterns or splashing, even though they can't see the behavior.

Dolphins also have an understanding of a concept known as "object permanence." Most animals can't understand that an object is still there if it is removed from view, such as placing it in a bucket. But dolphins have repeatedly shown the ability to recognize that hidden objects are still present even though they have disappeared from view.

Recent tests have also demonstrated that dolphins understand basic number concepts. In experiments at the Dolphin Research Center the animals were able to identify the correct number of dots on a board and also able to correctly indicate which board had "fewer" dots than another.

1: Chimpanzees

While there is debate as to which animal is "the smartest," chimps regularly rank as one of the most intelligent of all animals.

Chimps also show an advanced ability to work together to achieve common goals, especially when hunting.

Chimps have been observed crafting basic weapons in the wild. Researchers have noted that they will sharpen sticks, which they then use as spears to hunt smaller primates (known as bushbabies), which they eat.

Chimpanzees have a basic understanding of numbers, human language and are capable of forming complex social relationships. They are also aware and observant of status in social settings. Researchers continue to probe just how much these animals understand. We hope you've enjoyed this look at the world's smartest animals.

Comments

The views expressed are not those of this site, this station or its affiliated companies. By posting your comments you agree to accept our terms of use.